Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, we are here today to stand up for workers, taxpayers, and small businesses. We all agree employers who do business with the Federal Government should be held to high standards, and their employees deserve strong protections. That is why for decades the Federal Government has had a system in place to deny contracts to employers who violate Federal labor laws. Time and again, Republicans in Congress urged the Obama administration to enforce the current system to ensure workers receive fair pay and safe workplaces. Instead, the previous administration did the exact opposite. It went in search of a problem that doesn't exist. It took its eye off the ball, and we are here today to demand better. The Obama blacklisting rule empowers government agencies to deny employers Federal contracts for alleged violations of various Federal labor laws and similar State laws. That is right. Under this rule, bureaucrats can determine employers are guilty until proven innocent, and then deny them the ability to do business with the Federal Government. This is one important reason why a Federal district judge recently blocked implementation of the rule because it would have a chilling effect on the due process rights of American citizens. But that is not the only reason why we are here today.…”